Carbon County News Briefs

Price officials raise sewer rates to counter rate increases by PRWID

Effective Jan. 1, the Price River Water Improvement District raised Price city's monthly sewer service charge $1.50 per month. Effective April 1 all Price residents will see their sewer rates increase $2, from $22 to $24 per month.

The additional 50 cents is to account for the first quarter of the 2007 calendar year in which the increase was not being charged to the city's customers. Effective Jan. 1, 2008 the additional 50 cents will be removed from Price residents' sewer bills, at which time customers should expect to see a decrease in their sewer fees - from $24 to $23.50.

Far West becomes AmericanWest Bank in merger valued at $120 million

Shareholders for the two banks announced on Monday that 16 branches of Far West Bank had been purchased by AmericanWest Bank with a combination of cash and common stock.

Officials for both banks said they expect the merger, valued at $120 million, to be a smooth one for bank customers.

The combined bank firm has assets estimated at $1.9 billion. After the merger, the bank will operate 62 full-service branches across the western United States. Local managers and staff are not expected to be affected.

BOR schedules public hearings for draft EIS for Colorado River management

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is seeking public comments at three public hearings related to a draft environmental impact statement on proposed interim guidelines for managing shortages in the lower Colorado River Basin.

Hearing will be in Phoenix, Ariz., on April 4; Henderson, Nev., on April 3; and in Salt Lake City on April 5.

Interested parties can also submit written comments before the April 30 deadline. EIS documents and related information are available online at http://www.usbr.gov/lc/region/programs/strategies/draftEIS/.